According to Chinese medicine theory, Yang/Qi plays
a pivotal role in driving physiological functions in the body, these being
highly dependent on mitochondrial ATP production. Consistent with this,
Yang/Qi-invigorating Chinese tonifying herbs have been found to stimulate
mitochondrial ATP generation capacity (ATP-GC) in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. In the
present study, we have demonstrated that Yang-invigorating Chinese tonifying
herbs (namely, Eucommiae Cortex, Cibotii Rhizoma, Dipsaci Radix, Cynomorii Herba,
Cistanches Herba, Cuscutae Semen, EpimediiHerba and Morindae Radix) and
Qi-invigorating Chinese tonifying herbs (namely, Ginseng Radix,
Pseudostellariae Radix, Quinquefolii Radix, Codonopsis Radix, Astragali Radix,
Atractylodis Rhizoma, Juiubae Fructus, Fici Simplicissimae Radix and Dioscoreae
Oppositae Radix) act by different mechanisms to stimulate mitochondrial ATP-GC.
While Yang-invigorating herbs fluidize mitochondrial membranes and thus stimulate ATP-GC, Qi-invigorating herbs
can enhance cellular glutathione status and increase ATP-GC. The different
mechanisms by which Yang-invigorating herbs and Qi-invigorating herbs stimulate
mitochondrial ATP-GC may serve as the basis for establishing biomarkers
for Yang/Qi-invigorating herbs and herbal health products in general.
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